Illinois Open Winner Comes In Safe At Home

August 08, 1993|By Reid Hanley.

Dino Lucchesi says he didn't have a home-course advantage in winning the Illinois Open at Royal Fox Golf Course in St. Charles, but he won't deny he felt at home there.

The 31-year-old assistant professional at Ravinia Green shot a final-round 1-under par 70 Saturday to finish at 5-under 208 for the tournament, four shots ahead of Mike Small of Danville and 36-hole leader David Prange of Glenview. Low amateurs Bill Hoffer of Elgin and Royal Fox member Lee Kolquist of Batavia tied for fourth, five shots back.

Lucchesi spent last year as an assistant at Royal Fox, and has played there as much as anyone in the field except Kolquist. But Lucchesi believed his advantage was off the course.

"I don't think course knowledge helped from working out here," said Lucchesi, who earned $10,000 with the victory. "You don't ever see the greens this fast until you get in this kind of situation. What helped was knowing (course owner) Vince Solano, (club manager) Ken Hoffman, the membership, knowing people who come up and wish you well, congratulate you and follow you around. I feel comfortable here because of that.

"All the guys who are playing here this week play here at least three or four rounds every year. The scores are getting a little bit lower in the Open."

Lucchesi became only the third club pro to win the tournament since 1979. Defending champion Marty Schiene, who plays the PGA Tour, finished at 222. Lucchesi's final round of 35-35-70, which tied for second-lowest round of the day behind Gary Groh's 67, looks pretty tame on the scoreboard, but it had some moments.

"I had three bogeys, and all three times I came right after it with a birdie," said Lucchesi. "I bogeyed the first hole, birdied the second, bogeyed the fourth hole-three-putted from 2 1/2 feet-and birdied the fifth. I was 2 1/2 feet right behind the hole, and it hit the hole, spun out and ran 4 feet past. I came right back on No. 5, hit it about 10 feet straight up the hill and made it for birdie."

Lucchesi, who bogeyed 16 and birdied 17, took the lead on the 200-yard No. 5 and never relinquished it. He led by as many as four shots on the back nine.

Prange, who started the day two shots ahead of Lucchesi and Randy Cochran, shot a 6-over-par 41 on the front nine that included double bogeys on the third and ninth. He made three birdies on the back nine, but couldn't get any closer than three shots.

"I just gave it away on the front," said Prange, who finished with a 76. "I just couldn't get a birdie putt to go down. I birdied 13 and 14, but Dino made a great par on 13, and then birdied the 14th. I just couldn't shake him."

The narrow 411-yard 12th hole spelled the end for Cochran. A double bogey from the woods dropped him from two shots behind to four when he pushed a drive into the trees. With more than 200 yards to the hole and a 4-foot opening between trees, he choked up on his driver and attempted to find the green with a short grass-seeking missile. Instead, he found wood and his ball caromed into the left rough behind him. He finished with a 76 for 214 to tie for sixth with Trevor Beard of White Heath and Jim Estes of Skokie.

"I could have punched it out to 200 yards and played for a 5," said Cochran, who missed a 5-footer for bogey. "I'd hit the shot again. I saw the shot clearly and struck it well. It was solid enough. It was tracking to the middle of the green."

Small was playing in the group ahead of Lucchesi, Cochran and Prange. Small got to within two shots of Lucchesi with birdies on the 13th, 14th and 15th holes, and a Lucchesi bogey on 16. Small three-putted for bogey on the 18th while Lucchesi birdied the 17th to end all challenges.

Lucchesi launched a 5-iron to 10 feet left of the 200-yard hole and made the putt to give him his second victory of the year.

"This is good for my confidence," said Lucchesi. "Anytime you can go out and win a three-day tournament with the type of competition you have at the Illinois Open, it's good for your confidence. You know you've handled the pressure."